Chicken and Cheddar Souffle

Cook Time: 1 hr
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

Unsalted butter for greasing the souffle dish, plus 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons), at room temperature
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole milk, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups shredded mild Cheddar
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
2 packed cups baby spinach leaves
1 store-bought, rotisserie chicken, breast meat only, skinned and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups)
6 egg yolks, at room temperature, lightly beaten
2 (1/2-inch thick) slices country-style white bread, crusts removed, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
6 egg whites, at room temperature


Directions

Special equipment: a 2-quart (8-cups) souffle dish


Arrange an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 2-quart souffle dish. Set aside.


In a medium saucepan, heat 1/2 stick of butter over medium-low heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture coats the back of a spoon, about 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the nutmeg and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cheeses, the spinach, chicken, egg yolks, and bread cubes. Stir until combined (mixture will be thick).



In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites at high speed until they hold stiff peaks, about 2 minutes. Stir 1/4 of the egg whites into the chicken mixture. Using a spatula, fold in the remaining egg whites. Spoon the batter into the prepared dish and bake until the souffle is puffed and the top is firm and golden, about 55 to 60 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.


From: foodnetwork.com

Panino di Prosciutto e Fontina

Cook Time: 8 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

* 2 to 4 slices (3 ounces total) fontina cheese
* 2 slices (1/2-inch-thick) rustic white bread
* 2 paper-thin slices red onion (optional)
* Salt
* Freshly ground black pepper
* 6 fresh baby spinach leaves
* 1 to 2 paper-thin slices (1/2-ounce) prosciutto
* 2 to 3 teaspoons olive oil

Directions

Place 1 to 2 slices of fontina atop 1 bread slice. Top with the
onions. Season with salt and pepper. Then add spinach and prosciutto.
Add the remaining slice(s) of fontina. Top with the second bread
slice. Brush both sides of the sandwich with the oil.

Heat a grill pan over medium-low heat. Grill the sandwich until the
bread is golden brown and the cheese melts, pressing down with a metal
spatula or grill press, about 4 minutes per side.

From: foodnetwork.com

Taleggio and Pear Panini

Cook Time: 10 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

* 1 (1-pound) loaf ciabatta bread (or 8 slices country bread)
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 8 ounces Taleggio cheese or brie, sliced
* 2 large pears, apples or peaches, cored and cut into 1/4-inch wedges
* 2 tablespoons honey
* Pinch salt
* Pinch freshly ground black pepper
* 3 ounces arugula or spinach

Directions

Preheat the panini machine. Cut the ciabatta loaf into 4 equal pieces.
Halve each piece horizontally to make 4 sandwiches. Brush the bread on
both sides with olive oil and place the bottom-half of the bread
slices in the panini machine in a single layer. Heat until golden,
about 3 to 4 minutes. Continue with the remaining top slices of bread.

While the top slices of the bread are in the Panini machine, begin
forming the sandwiches. Divide the cheese among the warm bread. Cover
the cheese with slices of fruit. Drizzle the fruit with honey.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with a handful of arugula. Place
the warmed top half of the bread over the arugula and return the
competed sandwich to the panini machine for 1 to 2 minutes more to
finish melting the cheese. Remove from the panini machine. Cut the
sandwiches in half and serve immediately.

From: foodnetwork.com

Gnudi

Cook Time: 8 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

* 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
* 1 pound frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
* 1 cup grated Parmesan
* 2 eggs
* 2 egg yolks
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus 1 cup for coating
* 1 jar store bought marinara sauce, heated

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

In a large bowl, mix ricotta, spinach, Parmesan cheese, eggs, and
yolks. Stir in nutmeg, salt, pepper, and flour. Form mixture in to
small, flattened balls.

Dredge the formed gnudi in flour to coat, tapping off the excess.
Slide formed gnudi into the boiling water. Be careful not to overcrowd
the pan; work in batches if necessary. Remove the gnudi using a
slotted spoon after they float to the top and have cooked for about 4
minutes.

Arrange gnudi on a platter and lightly drizzle with marinara sauce.

From: foodnetwork.com

Lasagna Rolls

No.1 in Food Network's Top 10 Pasta Recipes! :)

Cook Time: 50 min
Level: Intermediate
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients
Sauce:

* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
* 4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
* 1 1/4 cups whole milk
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
* Pinch ground nutmeg

Lasagna:

* 1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
* 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry
* 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
* 3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, chopped
* 1 large egg, beaten to blend
* 3/4 teaspoon salt, plus more for salting water
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 12 uncooked lasagna noodles
* 2 cups marinara sauce
* 1 cup shredded mozzarella (about 4 ounces)

Directions

To make the sauce: Melt the butter in a heavy medium saucepan over
medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk for 3 minutes. Whisk in the
milk. Increase the heat to medium-high. Whisk the sauce until it comes
to a simmer and is thick and smooth, about 3 minutes. Whisk the salt,
pepper, and nutmeg into the bechamel sauce.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Whisk the ricotta, spinach, 1 cup Parmesan, prosciutto, egg, salt, and
pepper in a medium bowl to blend.

Add a tablespoon or 2 of oil to a large pot of boiling salted water.
Boil the noodles until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain.
Arrange the noodles in a single layer on a baking sheet to prevent
them from sticking.

Butter a 13-by-9-by-2-inch glass baking dish. Pour the bechamel sauce
over the bottom of the prepared dish. Lay out 4 lasagna noodles on a
work surface, then spread about 3 tablespoons of ricotta mixture
evenly over each noodle. Starting at 1 end, roll each noodle like a
jelly roll. Lay the lasagna rolls seam side down, without touching,
atop the bechamelsauce in the dish. Repeat with the remaining noodles
and ricotta mixture. Spoon 1 cup of marinara sauce over the lasagna
rolls. Sprinkle the mozzarella and remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan
over the lasagna rolls. Cover tightly with foil. Bake until heated
through and the sauce bubbles, about 20 minutes. Uncover and bake
until the cheese on top becomes golden, about 15 minutes longer. Let
stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the remaining marinara sauce in
a heavy small saucepan over medium heat until hot, and serve
alongside.

Ribollita

Cook Time: 40 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

* 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus some for drizzling on bread
* 1 onion, chopped
* 1 carrot, chopped
* 4 ounces pancetta, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, 1 minced and 1 whole
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1 tablespoon tomato paste
* 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
* 1 pound frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
* 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained
* 1 tablespoon herbs de Provence
* 3 cups chicken stock
* 1 bay leaf
* 1 (3-inch) piece Parmesan rind
* 4 to 6 ciabatta rolls, halved lengthwise or 1 loaf, sliced
* Grated Parmesan, for serving

Directions

Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the onion,
carrot, pancetta, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook until the
onion is golden brown and the pancetta is crisp, about 7 minutes. Add
tomato paste and stir until dissolved. Add tomatoes and stir, scraping
the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to release all the brown
bits. Add the spinach, beans, herbs, stock, bay leaf, and Parmesan
rind. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Drizzle the ciabatta halves with olive oil. Toast until golden brown,
about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and rub the top of the toasts
with the whole garlic clove. Place the toasts in the serving bowls and
ladle the soup over the toasts. Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve
immediately.

From: foodnetwork.com

Pork Chops Stuffed with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Spinach

Cook Time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

* 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 6 sun-dried tomatoes, diced
* 1 (10-ounce) bag of frozen spinach, thawed and excess water squeezed out
* 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
* 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
* 1/4 cup (2 ounces) goat cheese
* 1/3 cup reduced-fat cream cheese
* 4 (4-ounce) center-cut pork chops
* 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
* 1/2 lemon, zested
* 2 tablespoons lemon juice
* 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Directions

Warm the 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium
heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the
sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, salt, pepper, and thyme. Cook until
combined, about 2 more minutes. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl.
Add the goat cheese and the cream cheese. Stir to combine and set
aside.

Use a sharp knife to cut a pocket into the thickest portion of the
pork chop. Stuff each pocket with 1/4 of the spinach and sun-dried
tomato mixture and close the pork around the stuffing. Season the
outside of the pork with salt and pepper.

In a small bowl combine the chicken broth, lemon zest, lemon juice, and mustard.

Warm the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, heavy skillet
over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot add the pork. Cook until
golden and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the pork
to a side dish and tent with foil to keep warm. Add the chicken broth
mixture to the skillet over medium-high heat. Scrape up the brown bits
from the bottom of the pan as the chicken broth simmers. Reduce the
broth by half to make a light sauce, about 8 minutes. Spoon some sauce
over the pork before serving.

From: foodnetwork.com

Classic Italian Lasagna

Cook Time: 45 min
Level: Intermediate
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

Bechamel Sauce:

* 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 2 tablespoons for the lasagna
* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
* 4 cups whole milk at room temperature
* Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
* 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce, recipe follows
* Salt and white pepper
* 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 pound ground chuck beef
* Salt and pepper
* 1 1/2 pounds ricotta cheese
* 3 large eggs
* 1 pound lasagna sheets, cooked al dente
* 2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and
squeezed dry
* 3 cups shredded mozzarella
* 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Bechamel sauce:

In a 2-quart pot, melt 5 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. When
butter has completely melted, add the flour and whisk until smooth,
about 2 minutes. Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly to
prevent any lumps from forming. Continue to simmer and whisk over
medium heat until the sauce is thick, smooth and creamy, about 10
minutes. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of wooden
spoon. Remove from heat and add the nutmeg and tomato sauce. Stir
until well combined and check for seasoning. Set aside and allow to
cool completely.

In a saute pan, heat extra-virgin olive oil. When almost smoking, add
the ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Brown meat, breaking
any large lumps, until it is no longer pink. Remove from heat and
drain any excess fat. Set aside and allow to cool completely.

In a medium sized bowl, thoroughly mix the ricotta and eggs. Season
with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Into the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish, spread 1/3 of the
bechamel sauce. Arrange the pasta sheets side by side, covering the
bottom of the baking dish. Evenly spread a layer of all the ricotta
mixture and then a layer of all the spinach. Arrange another layer of
pasta sheets and spread all the ground beef on top. Sprinkle 1/2 the
mozzarella cheese on top of the beef. Spread another 1/3 of the
bechamel sauce. Arrange the final layer of pasta sheets and top with
remaining bechamel, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Cut the remaining
2 tablespoons of butter into 1/4-inch cubes and top lasagna.

Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place lasagna dish on
top, cover and put on the middle rack of the oven and bake until top
is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Remove cover and continue to bake for
about 15 minutes.

Simple Tomato Sauce:

* 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 small onion, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, chopped
* 1 stalk celery, chopped
* 1 carrot, chopped
* Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 2 (32-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
* 2 dried bay leaves
* 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional

In a large casserole pot or Dutch over, heat oil over medium high
heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about
5 to 10 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and
pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 to 10
minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaves and simmer uncovered on low heat
for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning.
If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a
time to round out the flavors.

Add 1/2 the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process
until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.

If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to
2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6
months.

From: foodnetwork.com

Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Lemon, Basil, and Salmon

Cook Time: 10 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

* 1/2 pound whole-wheat spaghetti pasta
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 4 (4-ounce) pieces salmon
* 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
* 3 tablespoons capers
* 1 lemon, zested
* 2 tablespoons lemon juice
* 2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the
pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring
occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta and transfer to a
large bowl. Add the garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Toss to combine.

Meanwhile, warm the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high
heat. Season the salmon with salt and pepper. Add the fish to the pan
and cook until medium-rare, about 2 minutes per side, depending on the
thickness of the fish. Remove the salmon from the pan.

Add the basil, capers, lemon zest, and lemon juice to the spaghetti
mixture and toss to combine. Set out 4 serving plates or shallow
bowls. Place 1/2 cup spinach in each bowl. Top with 1/4 of the pasta.
Top each mound of pasta with a piece of salmon. Serve immediately.

From: foodnetwork.com

Veronica's Veggie Meatloaf with Checca Sauce

Cook Time: 1 hour 30 min
Level: Intermediate
yield: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

Checca Sauce:

* 1 pint cherry tomatoes (about 2 cups, or 12 ounces), halved
* 3 scallions (white and pale green parts only), coarsely chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, chopped
* 8 fresh basil leaves
* 3 tablespoons olive oil
* Pinch salt
* Pinch freshly ground black pepper

Lentil Loaf:

* 3/4 cup lentils (about 5 ounces)
* 3 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
* 1 cup uncooked short-grain brown rice, rinsed well
* 1/2 cup finely chopped white onion
* 1/2 cup shredded carrots
* 1 celery rib, sliced
* 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
* 2 tablespoons butter, divided
* 10 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves (about 4 cups)
* 1 1/2 cups cubed whole milk mozzarella cheese, divided (about 8
ounces total)
* 2 eggs, lightly beaten
* 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus 2 tablespoons
* 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1 tomato, sliced

Directions

For the Checca Sauce: Combine the cherry tomatoes, scallions, garlic,
basil, and oil in a processor. Pulse the tomatoes until they are
coarsely chopped, being careful not to puree. Set aside. Season the
sauce with salt and pepper.

For the Lentil Loaf: Place the lentils in a large saucepan of cold
water. Bring the water just to a boil over high heat. Carefully drain
the boiling water and rinse the lentils. Meanwhile, in a heavy large
saucepan over medium heat, bring the broth to a boil. Add the rice and
return the liquid to a boil. Decrease the heat to low, cover the rice,
and gently simmer without stirring for 10 minutes. Stir in the
lentils, onion, carrot, and celery. Cover and continue cooking without
stirring until the rice and lentils are tender and the liquid is
absorbed, about 30 minutes longer. Turn off the heat. Sprinkle the
corn over the rice and lentils and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
Uncover and fluff the rice with a fork. Cover and let stand for 5 more
minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread 1 tablespoon of the butter over a 10 by 4 1/2 by 3-inch loaf
pan. In a heavy, large skillet, cook the spinach over medium heat
until the spinach wilts, about 3 minutes. Drain and squeeze the excess
liquid from the spinach. Transfer the spinach to a work surface and
coarsely chop.

In a large bowl, gently mix the lentil mixture, spinach, 1 cup of the
mozzarella cheese, eggs, 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, basil, salt,
pepper, and half of the checca sauce. Spoon the mixture into the
prepared pan. Arrange the sliced tomatoes in a row over the lentil
mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and
2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Dot the top with the remaining 1
tablespoon of butter.

Bake uncovered until the loaf is heated through and the topping is
melted and starting to brown, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 15
minutes. Slice the loaf into 2-inch slices, arrange on plates, and
serve with the remaining checca sauce.

From: foodnetwork.com